新年到，世界各国有哪些庆祝方式呢？

新年到了！

人们要告别过去，用希望、挑战和梦想来庆祝新一年的开始。

NEW Year’s Day is here! It’s time for people to say goodbye to the past and celebrate the beginning of a new year with hopes, challenges and dreams.

你知道吗？在所有节庆活动中，“新年庆祝”是历史最悠久的一个。大约在4000年前，古巴比伦人庆祝新年。公元前153年，罗马人开始将1月1日作为新一年的开始。如今，世界各地的人们都把1月1日当作新年的第一天，并用多种方式庆祝。

The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. People in ancient Babylon (古巴比伦) celebrated the new year about 4,000 years ago. In 153 BC, the Romans started using January 1 as the beginning of the new year. Today, people around the world consider January 1 to be New Year’s Day and celebrate it in a number of ways.

每年的跨年夜倒计时，美国时代广场的新年“降球仪式”都备受瞩目——“报时球”从旗杆顶部落下，数百万人一起倒数，迎接新年的到来。

In the US, every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31, the eyes of the world turn to the shining lights of Times Square (时代广场). The famous New Year’s Eve Ball of colored lights drops from the top of the flagpole (旗杆) and millions of voices count down (倒数) the final seconds of the year. The New Year’s Eve Ball has become more than just a celebration – it’s a tradition.

澳大利亚人的跨年仪式感来自悉尼海港大桥绚烂的新年烟火，烟花伴随着音乐绽放，人们相互拥抱、亲吻，来表达对过去的感谢、对未来的期许。

Australian people celebrate New Year’s Day with a wonderful fireworks show over Sydney Harbor Bridge at midnight on December 31. When the fireworks start with popular music, people often hug (拥抱) or kiss each other to show their happiness and thanks for the old and new years.

在中国，尽管新年庆祝活动不如春节庆祝活动隆重，但人们仍会以自己的方式进行庆祝——一些学校和机构会举办新年派对。

In China, although the new year celebration is less important than the celebration of the Spring Festival (春节), people celebrate it in many ways. There are usually New Year’s Day parties in schools and offices. Some young people in big cities will light fireworks.

重点单词：

1.celebration - [ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən]-n. 庆祝

例句：The whole town gathered for a grand celebration of the festival.

整个城镇的人们聚集在一起，为节日举行盛大的庆祝活动。

2. ancient - [ˈeɪnʃənt]-adj.古老的

例句：Archaeologists discovered ancient ruins in the desert.

考古学家在沙漠中发现了古老的遗迹。

3. tradition -[trəˈdɪʃən] -n. 传统；习俗

例句：The Lunar New Year is a tradition celebrated by many Asian cultures.

农历新年是许多亚洲文化庆祝的传统。

4. fireworks - [ˈfaɪərˌwɜrks] -n. 烟花

例句：We watched the fireworks display on New Year's Eve.

我们在除夕夜观赏了烟花表演。

5. harbor - [ˈhɑrbər] -n.海港

例句：The ship sailed into the harbor after a long voyage.

船只经过漫长的航程后驶入了港口。

6. countdown - [ˈkaʊntˌdaʊn]-n.倒计时

例句：We started the countdown to the New Year at 10 seconds.

我们从10秒开始倒计时迎接新年。

7. midnight - [ˈmɪdˌnaɪt] - n.午夜

例句：They celebrated their anniversary with a romantic walk at midnight.

他们在午夜时分以浪漫的散步庆祝他们的纪念日。

重点短语：

1. say goodbye to - 告别

2. the beginning of - ...的开始

3. the eyes of the world - 全世界的目光

4. drop from - 从...降下

5. count down - 倒数

6. show their happiness - 表达他们的幸福

7. thanks for - 对...表示感激

8. celebrate in many ways - 以多种方式庆祝

9. light fireworks - 放烟花

固定搭配语法知识：

1. as the clock nears midnight - 随着钟表临近午夜

2. at the top of - 在...的顶部

3. start with - 以...开始

4. often hug or kiss each other - 经常互相拥抱或亲吻

5. show their happiness and thanks - 表达他们的幸福和感激之情

6. in many ways - 以多种方式

7. in big cities - 在大城市中

8. will light fireworks - 将放烟花

来源：21世纪英文报·初二版 第368期

编辑：鲁蒙海

审核：海 新

终审：张 扬